Ten Locally Inspired Spa Journeys

To experience a destination, you could wander the streets, chatting up residents and sampling local cuisine. Or, you could get a massage.

Spas at The Ritz-Carlton dedicate nearly half of their treatment menus to local experiences, offering a new way to get familiar with a destination by drawing on time-honored wellness practices and indigenous ingredients.

We highlight ten of these treatments here, which you can explore along with other locally inspired treatments at our wellness hotels and resorts.

Bahrain

On the Banks of the Dead Sea at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
90 minutes

Nature truly nurtures with this full-body experience, which utilizes the re-mineralizing and detoxifying properties of Dead Sea water and mud to soften skin. A soothing massage revitalizes tired muscles.

China

Lava Shell Body Therapy at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
80 minutes

Fusing Eastern and Western therapies, this ESPA signature treatment uses indigenous lava shells, which are heated to soothe tired feet. A full-body massage with warm oil leaves you relaxed and re-energized.

Indonesia

Iridescent Delight at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
120 minutes

In Bali, the ocean is a source of both beauty and healing, and this treatment uses one of its treasures to treat dull skin. A shimmer pearl polish smooths, a pure pearl body wrap enhances and a Shine Renewal Massage with pearl extract oil releases tension and improves circulation for a youthful, healthy glow.

Japan

Ryokucha Serenity Ritual at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
90 minutes

Tea is not simply an afternoon tradition. Drawing on the healing benefits of green tea, this full-body treatment uses local leaves, rich in anti-oxidants, and warm essential oils for a calming, rhythmic massage.

United States

Desert Gemstone Ritual at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
100 minutes

Based on the native Hohokam Indians’ belief that each person’s spirit is linked to a unique and sacred gemstone, this journey offers full-body rejuvenation. A gemstone is customized for each guest and used as the basis for a calming foot soak, exfoliation, soothing bath and full-body massage (with stones placed for optimal healing).

There is reason why hammocks are the unofficial symbol of beach vacations; their gentle support and calming sway put everyone at ease. Foregoing traditional techniques, this massage uses the zero gravity of a hammock to relax the body and mind.

This Gold Coast spa draws on the element for both healing and beauty. Using a golden sugar scrub and gold particle-enriched oil, this treatment nourishes the body and leaves skin with a subtle shimmer.

Puerto Rico

Tree House Massages at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
60 to 90 minutes

Integration with nature is at the heart of the resort’s Spa Botánico, where the lush tropical forest offers more than breathtaking scenery. Carefully built amid the greenery, open-air tree houses double as treatment rooms for a selection of massages, including a deep Thai massage and the Dorado Deluxe, which includes a foot scrub and hair and scalp treatment.